TV Show Cancelled After Celebrity Death

Zhejiang TV reality program Chase Me was canceled after a contestant died shortly after appearing on the endurance-based show. TV star Gao Yixiang, 35, collapsed and was rushed to hospital, where he later died of sudden heart failure. Gao’s death triggered debate over programs like Chase Me, which challenge participants to run through extreme obstacle courses. Chase Me’s courses involved such strenuous feats that even some professional athletes, including Olympic gymnast Li Xiaopeng, complained of exhaustion. Worse still, the program was usually shot at midnight, which medical experts said exerts even more stress on the body. In previous episodes, other participants had suffered injuries. Netizens accused the program of putting people’s lives at risk for the sake of ratings and called for safety and medical experts to screen similar programs before production.